"I think the notion is to go as far as we can go in terms of the pathway to an ultimate ban," the mayor said.

Last year, backers of banning horse-drawn carriages from Central Park -- a powerful coalition of animal-rights activists -- pumped money into opposing Christine Quinn, once the front-runner for mayor, because she opposed such a prohibition.

Earlier this week, a key member of the City Council, Councilman Rafael Espinal, declared he was opposed to the ban. Espinal is head of the Consumer Affairs Committee, where previous carriage-related bills have originated. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who ultimately controls the flow of bills, said the legislative path was still being worked out.

John Eddy, a spokesman for the coalition pushing a ban, said the group "applauds the mayor's commitment to end the unsafe, abusive and inhumane carriage horse industry in New York City."